Indiana’s preseason buzz is already loud, and The Athletic just turned it up another notch.
With the 2026 college football season drawing closer, the outlet released its Preseason All-Big Ten teams and put 10 Hoosiers on the list. That total trails only Ohio State and Oregon, which each landed 12 selections.
Indiana’s biggest haul came on the first team, where six Hoosiers made the cut: wide receiver Charlie Becker, offensive tackle Carter Smith, defensive tackle Tyrique Tucker, linebackers Rolijah Hardy and Isaiah Jones, and kicker Nico Radicic.
Becker earned his spot after delivering in the biggest moments of Indiana’s national championship run. Scott Dochterman wrote that Becker had “massive fourth-quarter catches during the Hoosiers' national championship run, especially late against Miami and Ohio State. He hauled in 34 catches for 679 yards (20 yards per catch) and four scores.”
Smith’s return gives Indiana another marquee name on the offensive line. Dochterman called him “A unanimous first-team All-American last year,” and noted that Smith “chose to return for his senior year after leading Indiana to the College Football Playoff title and earning the Big Ten offensive lineman of the year award. Smith has 41 consecutive starts at left tackle and is the only returning FBS tackle who graded in Pro Football Focus' top 10 in pass blocking and run blocking.”
Tucker was one of the anchors of Indiana’s defense last season, and his preseason honor reflects that. Dochterman described him as “a returning first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American defensive tackle” who “recorded six sacks and 12 tackles for loss as an explosive gap rusher with a reputation as the hardest-working player on the field.”
Hardy and Jones both showed up in the biggest games. Hardy, who Dochterman labeled “Undersized and overlooked,” posted 13 tackles at Oregon and 10 against Ohio State in the Big Ten title game.
He led Indiana with 102 tackles and eight sacks. Jones made his mark too, including a 10-tackle, two-sack outing against Ohio State and a blocked punt recovery for a touchdown against Miami.
He finished with 78 tackles, 15.5 for loss, and seven sacks.
Radicic rounded out Indiana’s first-team selections after a near-perfect season. Dochterman wrote that he “was close to a sure thing for the Hoosiers last season, connecting on all 87 extra-point attempts and 18 of 19 field goals.”
Indiana also placed three players on The Athletic’s second team. Wide receiver Nick Marsh, defensive tackle Mario Landino, and safety Amare Ferrell all made the list.
Marsh was joined by Landino and Ferrell on a second team that was heavy with Big Ten depth, while cornerback Jamari Sharpe gave Indiana one more name on the third team.
Here’s the full breakdown of Indiana’s selections across The Athletic’s preseason teams: Charlie Becker, Carter Smith, Tyrique Tucker, Rolijah Hardy, Isaiah Jones, and Nico Radicic on the first team; Nick Marsh, Mario Landino, and Amare Ferrell on the second team; and Jamari Sharpe on the third team.
The full first, second, and third teams also featured a long list of familiar Big Ten names, with Ohio State and Oregon leading the way in total selections.
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